1932 Rockne Six

The Rockne Company produced automobiles from 1931 through 1933. The story is rather sad with the name serving as a tribute to an individual. In 1931 Albert Erskine, the President of Studebaker, offered Knute Rockne a position as sales promotion manager of Rockne cars. Rockne was a long-time friend of Erskine and the head coach of the Notre Dame Football team. Rockne was worried that these new duties would interfere with his football program but Erskine reassured him that they would not. Studebaker began by creating a strong, durable, and inexpensive automobile named after the Notre Dame football coach. Just after the first Rockne automobiles began appearing in showrooms, Knute Rockne was killed in an airplane crash. The name persisted and was used as a tribute, but most people were unwilling to purchase the car nearly sending the Studebaker Company into bankruptcy. Instead, the company entered receivership and was able to continue automobile production. Erskine was removed from his position and he later committed suicide in 1933.

The Rockne automobiles were offered with an L-Head Studebaker six-cylinder engine with a choice of either 66 or 72 horsepower. The Rockne came in two lengths and could be purchased for around $600. Unfortunately, Ford's V8 automobiles outsold the Rocknes due to their stylish design, powerful engines, and low cost.

In April of 1933, the Rockne plant, located in Detroit, Michigan, closed its doors forever. A total of 23,201 examples had been produced.

by Daniel Vaughan | Mar 2006